Looking for a bit of peace

WORKING TOGETHER: Police Inspector Alan Humphreys welcomes the new “Peace and Quiet” agreement

THE second of Oldham’s pioneering neighbourhood agreements will be launched tomorrow in Hathershaw.

No other local authority in the country has embarked on a resident-led agreement dealing with crime, community safety and anti-social behaviour.

West Oldham area Police Inspector Alan Humphreys said: “This agreement will help us to deliver Neighbourhood Policing.

“It provides an understanding of what the community can expect from the police and other agencies — but also clearly states what the responsibilities of the community are.

“Its biggest strength is that it is an agreement that has been reached involving the local community.

“It is not something that has been imposed on them, they have played a very active part in its creation and have ownership of it.”

This agreement — entitled “Peace And Quiet” — will form an important written contract between agencies such as Greater Manchester Police, Trading Standards, the Community Safety Unit, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Services and residents.

They will work together but have their own roles and responsibilities so that each knows what is expected of the other to keep the area as crime free as possible.

Through the agreements, residents will be more involved and aware of the services available and take responsibility for ensuring that a sense of pride is developed in the area.

The launch event begins at 11am at the Honeywell Centre, Hathershaw, when residents from the New Deal for Communities (NDC) area, as well as Coppice and Bardsley, can drop in to find out how they can get involved in tackling the issue of crime and sign up to the agreements.

The official launch takes place at 1pm when the Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Shoab Akhtar will announce the second agreement.

MP Phil Woolas will also address the event on how these agreements fit into the wider Government agenda.

There will be a further three agreements rolled out across Hathershaw and Fitton Hill over the next 12 months.

The next agreement will be centred on housing and will be launched in September.

There will be another in December, dealing with community issues, and a further one in January 2009, tackling issues surrounding health.

The first agreement, launched in February and called “Green and Clean”, aimed for a cleaner environment.

A spokesman for NDC said it has proved “highly successful”.